I started running in 1972. My family had moved to Oregon and I ran a 1.5 mile cross country race at Joseph Lane Jr High, in Roseburg, OR... I won the race and didn't know what that meant and I didn't know about Steve Prefontaine, but quickly learned.

I played football, basketball, baseball and wondered what the "Running" Thing was all about. By the time I had graduated from High School, I knew running was the one thing I had passion for, worked hard at and it could make things better in life..... Along the way, I became the first member in my family to graduate from college. I've had the privilege of working and running with some of the best in the world... I've won and lost...but have learned in the process...

My father was a plumber (definitely not Joe) and my mother was a hair dresser. Somewhere along the way, they instilled in me that everyone is created with the same opportunity in life, but that hard work and opportunity was earned, not given.... The one thing I always appreciated about running is that it didn't matter what the coach thought, what politics there were...if you got to the finish line first, then your hard work was presented at that moment.

The same is true with any runner looking to win that internal battle within themselves... if you reach the goal you set, you win...no one can take that away from you.

Barack Obama became president yesterday...Hope, equality, dreams, passion and spirit ruled the day....somewhere, my dad is smiling.....Run Happy!